The gymnasium was filled to the brim with costumed revelers. Kendalgroves Jr. High School annual Halloween celebration was in full swing with all the students dancing their cares away as the DJ was playing the latest pop hits. The room gym had been decorated in full Halloween style, with spooky glow in the dark skeletons hanging from invisible strings and plastic bats too. And in the center there could be a strange attraction.

The attraction was some kind of contraption was a booth of some kind with three plastic walls. Sitting in the middle of the booth was an old wooden three legged stool and above the stool there could be seen a funnel feeding into a reservoir. The tank held around twelve gallons of orange slime that had touches of white swirled into the mix.  A few square bales of hay had been scattered around the tank with three freshly carved smiling Jack-O-Lanterns sitting around the booth. 

Standing by the booth was a young, petite woman with long brunette hair that reached down to her shoulders. She was dressed in a low cut version of the dress worn by Alice in “Alice in Wonderland” the dress was both flirty and adorable. The low cut, pastel blue dress hugged every inch of her frame and highlighted her curves and made her seem more endowed than she really was. A fact she was grateful for. Going the extra mile she had decided to also ditch the white stocking that came with the dress. After all she had spent hours upon hours running up and down the driveway of the manor house, and even more hours sunbathing in the backyard. All in an effort to add curves and to hopefully tan. All in all she had only seen marginal success as she had gone from flour white to a light brown color.. but it was something. And she was proud of her body too. 

You see Jane was transgender. Discovering that fact had solved a lot of her problems. Also discovering that had opened up another can of worms. But with the help of her new mom and dad she was slowly working her way through those problems, one problem at a time. Supporting her were a dozen or so aunts and uncles, cousins and brothers and sisters. And that was a blessing in itself.

Not that any of that mattered of course, Jane was still kind of accepted by her peers at school. The girls had kind of stopped seeing Jane as a major rival for the attention of the boys. And a few of them had even extended the olive branch. But still there were a group of girls who had looked down on her, because she was transgender and also because she was a manor girl. The same group of girls looked down on her older sister Susan  the same reason, she too was a manor girl. 

Anyway the reason behind the booth in the center of the gym was simple enough. A week or so ago, the student present had decided to hold something of a fundraiser. Because you know there was always one organization that needed a quick transfusion of ready cash into their checking accounts. And so, after a few rounds of debating it was decided that the best way to raise a lot of money with very little effort was a gunge vote between three popular girls. And those three were, Rebecca Marie Chapman, a blonde hair blue eyed girl who was the captain of the cheerleading squad. She had also been homecoming princess five years running and proudly boasted that she could trace her family line back to the early days of Erehwon. Back when Erehwon was just a tiny outpost of the budding British Empire.

Rebecca came from money and she was not afraid to let you know it. Up next was Yua Sato. She was one of the handful of ethic Japanese that were enrolled in the school. Jane also knew she was quite popular with the boys because she was Japanese and often played the part of a demure schoolgirl. Complete with bringing her own homemade lunch every day.

And while many of her classmates thought of her as naive and something of a pushover. Yua used her looks and her manners to make the boys dance and she could make them dance like puppets on a string. She was also cruel, cunning and wicked. And she used her heart shaped face to her advantage. And then it was her, the mystery girl who appeared one day at the annual back to school carnival. Jane had volunteered for the dunking booth that year. And while none of the girls had really thrown at her, a dozen or so had watched from the side lines giving her dirty looks. 

From that day forward, Jane had learned that girls can bully just as hard as boys. And that female jealousy was far more toxic than male jealousy. Jane had found herself pushed into a world she did not understand. A world where gossiping, backbiting and slander were the tools of choice. A world where clandestine meetings held in the girls bathroom decided your fate. 

Jane took a deep breath and shook her head. Maybe she was starting to overthink this. After all, nobody had forced her to volunteer for the booth. Nobody had forced her to sign up. Sighing deeply she started to shuffle toward the refreshment table. She needed something to drink, she really did. She needs something to clear her head too. 

The refreshment table was heavy laden with seasonal treats, pumpkin pie, a bowl of cheap seasonal candy that was wrapped in heavy orange plastic paper, another bowl that held mini versions of snickers, mars and other brand name candy bars sitting beside that was another bowl that was overflowing with peanut butter cups. And at the center of it all was a big bowl of orange looking punch.  With trembling hands, Jane reached over and picked up the medal ladle and poured herself some of the fruity smelling punch. 

As Jane stood there, sipping her punch she noticed everybody at the dance seemed to have a date. All save her, She noticed Rebecca was standing off in a corner, Rebecca had of course gone with your cookie cutter princess outfit. A pink gown with her blonde hair pulled back and braid back. Her best friend Yua was standing beside her, she was dressed as, it was hard to tell, but if Jane had to hazard a guess it would be something morbid.  It was like a cross between a zombie costume and a schoolgirl outfit. 

Taking a deep breath she slowly took a sip from her paper cup and swirled some of the juice around her mouth before she swallowed. It was not the biggest fan of fruit punch, she really hated the way it tasted, but she needed something to drink. 

“Oh hello there Jane.” A voice called out from behind her. “I'm so glad you're here. Even if it cost me a new pair of shoes.” The voice belonged to Rebecca. “Yes I totally made a bet with my best friend that you skip this little party, even if your names are on the hat to get gunged. You know, with it being Halloween and all. 

“We totally expected you to bail on us. You know, because you live in that foster home and such. And we know they only allow you guys to eat chocolate like three days a year or something?” Yua said, smirking as she rolled her eyes. 

“Good one!” Rebecca said falling into a fit of giggles. “I mean, most of their clothing is second hand anyway right? And most of their lunches are second hand anyway right? And Halloween is totally a beggar's holiday right? Free candy and all that good stuff?

Jane blinked and blinked again as she rolled her eyes and peered toward the two girls. She wanted to say something so bad, but she knew better than to feed into their teasing. After all she was a gamer girl and she knew better than to feed to trolls if you will. She was just about to walk off when she had a sudden change of mind. She had the perfect retort in mind. 

“You know, we get plenty of free candy and at least my mom lets me wear something flattering.” Jane started to circle around Rebecca like a hungry wolf encircling a lost and confused sheep. “Unlike yours, I mean really a princess costume. Come on now, it's not like we're in elementary school anymore girl. Then again.” She made a sniffing jester. “I guess because it reeks of moth balls this was your elementary school costume.” 

Rebecca blinked and blinked again and a stunned look took hold of her face. Her facial expression kind of reminded Jane of the facial expression somebody would make when smacked with a heavy cast iron pan or a float board on those old Saturday morning cartoons. It was safe to say she had stunned Rebecca into silence. So with one down one to go she turned her full attention toward Yua.

“And you.” Jane said, shaking her head. “I don't know where to start, so let's start with your outfit. You know, even though you're supposed to come from one of the richer families in the school. Your outfit looks like you just raided your closet, then raided the mark down section of the CVS Halloween Costume Section. You know the one they have next to the candy displays. Because let me down low with your girlfriend. Your outfit looks more thrown together than a preschooler going trick or treating. Okay I take that back, even preschoolers can pick out a better costume.”

“Oh girl! I'm going to be straight up with you. You're cruisin for a bruise  right now.” Yua said to her as she flipped her long black hair back and peered into Jamie's eyes. 

Jamie, never being the one too back down, stepped up and peered into Yua's eyes, and for a minute the whole school held its breath. The music stopped, the dancing stopped and all eyes turned toward the two. A stunned silence had fallen over the crowd. And a few whispers could be heard from the very back of the room. You could almost cut the tension with a knife.

“You know, you're not even worth my time.” Jane said as she stepped away. “You're not even worth the trouble.” She added as she started to walk toward the back of the room. 

“Watch yourself girl, you're in our world now. And we play by our rules.” Yua said huffing as she watched Jamie walk away, her bottom switching as she walked. Her blood started to boil as she watched her slip into the crowd. “Just be sure to watch your back girl, you're now on my shit list.” She whispered as she watched Jamie slip away.

Once Jane was away from the girls, she took a deep breath. She was now standing at the edge of the crowd. Classic Halloween music was playing. And Jane for the first time tonight was starting to have second thoughts about being here. Everybody seemed to have a date, everybody saved her. Blushing deeply she folded her arms across her chest and started to pout, she could be home right now, gorging herself pizza from Pizza Hut and watching a marathon of classic Disney horror movies like Don't Look Under the Bed or Something Wicked This way Comes and who can forget the cult classic Hocus Pocus.

Jane took another deep breath as she peered out the one of the windows. The weather outside the gymnasium had changed from peaceful autumn mist to down right spooky Halloween. She could already see frost starting to form on the window panes. And she could tell the wind was starting to blow because of the way the trees out in the school yard started to lean this way and that. The howling of the wind filled her with dread. She breathed a silent prayer for her sisters who wanted to celebrate Samhain surrounded by Gaia.

“So.” A voice from behind Jane chimed in. “Pretty dull party.” 

Jane blinked and blinked again as she quickly turned around and noticed that standing close beside her was a boy, one of her classmates, a tall, handsome fellow with slender shoulders and a equally slim waist. Jane knew a little about him, for one he was on the track team and he was captain of the boys swim team. Jane knew this, because she had passed him a dozen or so times in the hallway of the two changing rooms.

“Kind of.. thought it be something more to this you know? Like I always thought Halloween parties are supposed to be spooky and a bit sexy.” She said blushing as she reached up and started to swirl some loose strains of her hair around her fingertips. “Can't believe I gave up on going ghost hunting with my big sister to attend this lame party.” She quickly added.

“Hey, you're the girl from before right? You know the one who volunteered for the dunking booth at school carnival or something right?” The boy asked as he slid a little closer to Jane. He was standing shoulder to shoulder with her. So close Jane could smell his body spray, it was a strange scent that reminded her of warm, tropical breezes, coconuts and palm trees. Inhaling that scent gave her a slight titillating, a feeling that was strange and yet welcoming to her. 

“Yep.” Jane said turning around and giving the boy a small smile. “You know, being the new girl in school, I figured I had to make a big splash or something. And what better way to make a big splash than volunteer for the school's dunking booth.” She added as she forced a laugh.

“I know, you looked totally cute sitting up there. I spotted you.. I was helping with the food trucks, I kind of wanted to dunk you, but once I finished my shift. I think your shift was up or something. Because you know, you were already down or something. You kind of struck me.” He said blushing a little.

Jane blinked and blinked again and slowly she started to laugh a little as the boy tried to flirt with her. She found his attempts at flirting bad, but amusing, they also made her feel special and she hated to say this, they she was kind of enjoying being the center of his attention. She wanted to say something, to flirt back. Instead she said.

“You know, you're really bad at flirting.” She said as she fell into a fit of giggle. “But it's kind of cute though!” 

The boy flushed a deep red and then became silent as the grave.

“Hey my name is Jane by the way..” Jane quickly added. Feeling a twinge of guilt over what she just said. Here she was complaining about not having a date and when a boy started a little romance toward her what she did, lay down a backhanded comment. “Sorry about what I said earlier.”

“No problem..” The boy said, “I'm Percy by the way..” He added.

Jane tilted her head to the side. “Is Percy short for something?”

“Percival.” Percy said blushing a little. “Both my folks are English Majors and they decided the name kind of suited me.”

“A princely name for a prince of a man.” Jane mused a little as she turned toward the booth that stood in the center of the gym. “I wonder when they're going to announce who's going into that thing? I mean the dance is almost over.. maybe they just forgot about the thing.” Jane added,

“Fat chance, our student council has been pushing this thing for weeks on end. Somebody going in.” The boy said, shaking his head. “I just hope it's Yua, she honestly needs to be taken down a peg, or two or heck even three.” The boy added.

Jane was about to say something when one of the teachers strolled into the center of the crowd. It was one of the young teachers, a petite woman with blonde hair and deep blue eyes. Jane knew she normally wore her blonde hair down or pulled back in a bun, but with tonight being Halloween she was sporting something of a double bun style. And her costume of choice was of course, the classic battle outfit worn by anime's most famous heroine, Sailor Moon. And the more Jane looked at the costume the more she noticed how everything seemed to be tailored and how the whole thing looked hand sewn.  

“Okay can I have everyone's attention!” She said in a loud, clear, commanding tone of voice that cut through the bedlam of noise like a hot knife through a stick of butter. Quickly all eyes zoomed in on her. The teacher waited for a minute and once she was sure she had the undivided attention of the eighty something students who had crowned themselves into the gym she pushed on.

“Okay, first things first. The dance will be ending in about twenty minutes. So make sure you got a ride. All students will need to leave school grounds no later than thirty minutes after the dance is over. Okay with that out of the way, it's time to see who will be going into our gunge tank.” She paused as a hushed silence fell over the crowd. The moment of truth had arrived. “Okay, we had three girls to volunteer for our first annual gunge booth and of those three girls, the student body has that they want to see.. and that girl is.. Jane Harris!” The woman cried out in a loud, booming tone of voice.

Jane blinked and blinked again. She felt like a ton of bricks had just smashed through the ceiling of the gym and crashed down on her. Slowly she forced herself to move toward the center of the gym. People seemed to move away from her, for the gathered sea of faces parted like sea did the Hebrew Children. 

Than her fears started to fade away as she peered toward the gunge tank. Sure she felt like her throat had jumped up into her throat. But she also knew this was a chance. And as she moved toward the tank, she made a effort to make her bottom wiggle and the helm of her dress to ride up a bit. She even reached up and tossed aside her the hairband that held her hair in place. She tossed it aside and allowed her  voluminous brunette tresses to fall down her shoulder and bounce around her shoulders. She then poked her chest out as she walked the two girls from before, she might only have a slight 'B' club but she was proud of it.  

Then she was standing before the tank. Taking a deep breath she stepped inside.

Once inside the tank, she folded the bottom of her dress over and eased down upon the stool. The teacher made a notion for the handle that would release the gunge, but Jane thinking quickly raised her voice and said.

“Hey! Just hold up a minute please.” She said taking a deep breath as she reached in and pulled out a small metallic make-up case from the pocket of her dress. The teacher paused and rolled her eyes as she watched as she pulled out a small tub of mascara. A stun silence fell over the room as she pulled out the wand and started to apply a fresh coat of mascara to her eyelashes. Once she was finished she returned to wand to the tub and placed it back in the case. She then reached in and pulled out a  small tub of lip gloss, she then added another frosty layer of strawberry pink lip gloss to her lips. She then returned it back to the case and returned the case to the pocket of her dress.

“Are you done?” The teacher asked as she peered toward Jane.

“I'm done.” Jane said smiling as she then placed her hands down at her side and looked up at the thirteen gallons of freezing cold gunge. She could feel the chill, she had even felt a sudden drop in temp when she stepped into the tank. 

“You know that make-up going to wash right off?” The teacher said as she rolled her eyes. A large crowd was starting to gather around the gunge tank now. “So why in the world are you putting it on before I pull the leaver?” Inquired the teacher 

“Because I want to look pretty when you pull the level.” Jane said, smirking as she watched the crowd swell. She took a deep breath and pushed her hands down to her side, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes, but she opened them a half a second later. A little smirk formed on her lips and the crowd started a countdown, it started at three and when it reached zero the teacher yanked hard upon the chain.

Then it happened. Jane could hear a plug being removed from the bottom of the tank above her. A split second later, a sudden downpour of orange gunge was falling down upon her head. The gunge was as thick as batter and rolled down from the top of her head down to her shoulders and down her shoulders to to the bottom of the tank. A deep blush colored Jane's cheeks as the gunge started to roll down her back, soaking her back. 

The horrible orange mixture then rolled down the front of her dress, soaking her modest cleavage, the coldness caused her to shiver and jump. She could feel her ears starting to burn a bright red as the sound of her classmates laughter filled the area around the tank. Their laughter soon gave way to applause and catcalls and shouts as the last ounces of gunge dropped down from the tank onto her head.

“And there we have it folks!” Shouted the teacher as she started to clap her hands together. “Jane, you've been a great sport. Thank you for letting us gunge you like this. I think you'll be pleased to know that you raised six hundred and twenty eight pounds for charity! And you have shown amazing school spirit.” 

Jane felt herself smiling as the teacher started to praise. She then fell into a fit of giggles as she noticed the boy from before standing by the tank. She offered him a little wink and a deep blush colored his face. And that is how Jane spent her first Halloween as Jane. Another chapter in her life draws to a close.

Hospital about a day or so ago. The girl had developed a nasty case of pneumonia that had gone under the guise of a really nasty common cold for several days, slowly withering away her heat till at last her mother had enough. The woman taking the bull by the horns, barged into Jane's room, and quickly bundled her up in a cocoon of colorful, woolen blankets. She then tossed her into the back of one of the many SUV's that belonged to the house. Once Jane was safely locked away, she then climbed into the drivers side of the SUV and made a light night, bat straight out of hell and ran to St. Philomena's Children Hospital. The last thing Jane remembered was wondering why most of the children and teens in the house always happen to go to the hospital at night and why it always seemed so early in the morning then they finally landed a room. That had been the last clear thought to enter into her head as she passed under the bright neon “A & E Ward'' sign that glowed out front under the double doors and into the bright, almost blinding fluorescent, white light hallways.

But that had been a day or so ago, she was feeling much better now, the color was even starting to return to her cheeks, and she could feel her strength slowly starting to return to her. But despite her improvement the doctors and the nurses still wanted to keep her a few extra days. Just to make sure she was really out of the woods and there was little to no chance she might have a sudden relapse. This of course meant she'll be stuck in the hospital for the duration of the local Obon Festival the local Shinto Shrine was putting on. And that of course sucked, because she had been looking forward to sitting around a darkened room with her sisters telling ghost stories and playing a scaled down version of a 'A gathering of one hundred tales of the Supernatural' a classic parlor game that started in Edo Japan.

Today was Sunday and that meant that the lunch for today was roast beef. Or in Jane's case a four slices of thickly sliced chuck tender roast, smothered in a watery thin gravy, the meat was paired with a small portion of green beans and roasted garlic potatoes. And to wash it all down, unsweetened tea with a little bits of ice cubes floating around in the plastic cup, the staff had provided enough ice to just cool the drink a little. And also since it was Sunday, the families of the patients were allowed to visit the charges. And the normally strict rules of visitations were relaxed a little/ As such Jane had spent the day being visited by her various brothers and sisters from the foster home she lived in. A very informal family, but still a very close knit family one. It had been a fun filled afternoon. One that had been filled with laughter, joking and of course the exchanging of stories. Most of the stories exchanged had been ghost stories. But now the sun was setting and the visiting hours were about to come to an end. 

“So have you seen her yet?” A brunette girl around Jane's age said as she leaned over. “I mean, Dawn said she almost spotted her when she was sick last year. And I think, I might have encountered her a few months ago too when I was sick.” She said, smirking a little. “So tell me little sister, have you seen her?”

“I have no idea what you're talking about.” Jane said blushing a little. “Anyway you need to get going. Visiting hours are almost over. And the head nurse around here is a bit of a prick.” Jane said shifting her baby blue eyes toward the door. Fully expecting the head nurse to appear at any time.

“Head nurse?” The brunette girl said tilting her head to the side. “I don't remember there being a head nurse being around here when I was here. I only remember there being a doctor, a kind of cute doctor too, kind of tall, kind of strong and he smelled good too.” The girl then paused, she was blushing hard now as memories of the tall, handsome doctor came flooding back to her. “Anyway, getting back on topic. Have you seen her yet?” The girl asked again.

“Who?” Jane asked as she peered toward the brunette girl. “Come on Susan, just spit it out. And stop dancing around it.” 

Susan blinked and blinked again. She then leaned in and in a soft, tone of voice she whispered into Jane's ear. “You know the phantom nurse. There a old urban legend floating around town that the children's hospital is haunted by the ghost of a nurse who was killed here one Hallow night.” Susan said in a hushed tone of voice. “That was way back in nineteen ninety five. Since the, she supposed to roam the hallways of the hospital. Looking for misbehaving brats, and bring comfort to the dying. You know, something like a patron saint.”

“Right.” Jane said shifting her focus away from Susan toward the window and the setting sun. “That's it? Her ghost just roams around the hospital and scolds you if you're bad?” Jane had known Susan for years, they were close as sisters. There was only a gap of three months in there age too. Also she and her had both arrived at the Foster home around the same time, around the Christmas season. Both too had been adopted around the same time as well. Susan had been the first one to be adopted by one of the caretakers, a middle aged woman with shoulder length raven, black hair and sparkling blue eyes. And Jane a few weeks later by a young woman in her late twenties who also happen to be the history teacher at the local Jr. High School.

Susan blinked and blinked again and for a minute she was at a loss for words. Then a little smirk formed upon her face as she leaned back and peered toward the doorway. She was just about to come back with a sassy retort when in the doorway there appeared a woman with blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes, she was dressed in blue hospital scrubs. She cleared her throat and peered toward Susan then she switched her gaze toward Jane.

“Aright you two. Visiting hours are over now I'm afraid. Young lady, your mother and the rest of your family is waiting for you down in the lobby. Jane, hurry up and finish your dinner. Its almost lights out and you still need to get your teeth brushed, you still need to be given a bath or a shower, and we need to change out your gown. I mean really girl, you've been wearing the same gown for almost two whole days, Its past time for a change.” The nurse said in a clear, commanding, authoritative tone of voice. One that left little to no room for debate or maneuver.

Susan blinked and blinked again as she stood up and reached over and took hold of her purse. “Yes ma'am.” She said as she folded her hands in the center and offered the nurse a little bow.

The nurse nodded her head and stepped aside giving Susan just enough room to squeeze by on. As Susan was leaving the room though, she turned her head to the side and smiled toward Jane who returned picking on her food. 

“Aright brat, be good for the nurses, eat all your food and get better. I'll come back to visit as soon as possible.” And with that Susan left the room, leaving Jane along with the head nurse.

“Mrs. Grinson?” Jane said after taking a few more bites of her roast beef, it had gone cold now and the gravy it was smothered in tasted funny. Most of the ice had melted in her cup and the water was quite warm, almost room temperature. She had finished her roasted garlic potatoes first and was now picking around her green beans. She hated green beans. She hated green beans the most to be fair though.

“Yes Jane?” The nurse said turning upon her heel to walk back into the hallway.

“Is there a really a ghost nurse?” Jane asked as she shoved a fork full of green beans into her mouth. She then forced herself to swallow, despite their bland taste. They could really do with some salt or pepper. She quickly shoved another fork full into her mouth and this time she swallowed without chewing. The food to her lacked soul, she had grown fond of the tasty dishes her mother fixed at home. Fried chicken, fried golden brown with a seasoned crust, Pecan pie, collard and mustard greens cooked long and slow and seasoned with salted pieces of pork and fried fish, normally fillets of cod that were fried golden brown and served with home cute french fries. And her famous homemade hamburgers, made with only fresh ground chuck with patties as big as the plate. And who could forget yellow cake with chocolate icing, and her favorite, fried pork chops and sometimes grilled chops. Her mother believed in cooking at home and boy did she cook.

“Oh that just a silly urban legend that the nurses use to scare misbehaving children into obeying.” The nurse said, giving a little sigh. “But, If I was you, I would still eat all my vegetables, stay in bed, and of course, I would not give the staff any trouble whatsoever. I heard the phantom nurse only visits the children and teens who cause trouble anyway, and those in need of comforting.” She then looked over her shoulders. “And only naughty children are supposed to encounter her, like children who don't eat all their veggies and who don't finish their meal trays, and give the staff sass. And lets not forget those who roam the hallways after hours.” And with that being said a wicked little smile formed upon the bow of her lip.

She then turned her head again and started walking toward the hallway.

“But if you're good, and you eat all your vegetables, stay in bed when you're supposed to, and obey the staff and don't cause any trouble. I doubt the ghost nurse will be paying you a late night visit, or as is sometimes the case an early morning visit.” She paused, “Now go ahead and finish eating. Its getting late, and you've had a long fun filled day visiting with your family, But now its time for all good girls to finish there supper and get ready for bed.” And with that the nurse left. Leaving a pouting Jane in her wake. 

“Its just a dumb old urban legend away!” Jane said with a pout that was about a mile long and and half a mile wide as she started to once more spear her few remaining veggies and once more she started to shovel them into her mouth, one fork full at a time till at last she had finished them all and then she tried to finish the few remaining pieces of roast beef, but the beef was tough, chewy and the more she chewed the bigger it seemed to grow and finally she gave up on it. Roast was suppose to be tender, this roast tasted like some old shoe leather. Or how she figured old shoe leather would taste if she was ever stranded on a tropical island by herself with only the bare basic, including shoe leather.

Finally thirty minutes later one of the helpers arrived to collect the tray. Once the tray had been collected, Jane was guided off the bed and into the bathroom. The helper happens to be a blonde hair, blue eyed woman named Sunflower, Sunflower who also happens to be one of the foster children taken to volunteering at the hospital. Right now the eighteen year old was clad in the traditional red-and-white striped pinafores that all the female volunteers wore. Despite Sunflower and Jane being sisters, as all the girls at the foster home claimed the other female children and teens as their sisters and all the male children and teens as their brothers the girl was not gentle, in fact one could say she was quite firm and soon she had little Jane bathed and changed. Once sunflower was sure Jane had been given a good warm bath.

She then reached over and picked up a wooden handle brush with thick yellow bristles, she then started to thoroughly brush the girls hair out. Once her hair had been brushed out, she divided it down the middle and styled it back in two cute pigtails. With a cord of pastel, pink ribbon tied around each bundle of hair to keep it in place. Just for an added touch of cuteness and color she figured. Then it was time for bed and despite the girl's protest that she was not ready for bed, she was soon fast asleep, once her head hit the pillow.

It was a few minutes passed midnight when Jane was awakened by a faint light hovering in front of her door. A sudden, overpowering feeling of curiosity overcame her and she quickly tossed aside her blanket and sheet and jumped down onto the cold tile floor of her room. Then dressed only in her paper thin hospital gown she started to move toward the door. Just as her hand was about to reach up and turn the copper plated door handle, she stopped, took a deep breath and looked over her. Her bed, dark as it was, seemed almost inviting now. She quickly shook her head and started to gather up her courage. If she stopped now, she was sure she'll never hear the end of Susan ragging her about it.

The minute Jane stepped into the hallway was the minute she noticed her, standing in the hallway was a woman, the woman seemed to be dressed in an old nurses uniform.  A white smock worn over a pink dress that had a white collar. She had blonde hair and blue eyes and her skin seemed an almost greenish color. Dancing on both sides of her shoulder were two bright orbs of light that glowed like tiny balls of fire. The woman seemed lost, like she was in some kind of trance too as floated down the hallway. Time from time she would pause and with care she would reach up and pull down the chart that was hung from the door of the room. She would then flip through the charts. Jane noticed that sometimes she would not head and return the chart to its holding place and move on to the next room. Other times she would frown and step through the door. It took Jane a good minute to notice that she seemed to move straight through the doors.

“What the fuck?” Jane said as she noticed the nurse float through the door. She wanted to run, she really did but it seemed like she was glued to the floor. And despite what she was telling her feet, her feet seemed to refuse to move. Then she heard it, the sound of a hand smacking a bottom. For ten solid minutes she heard the unmistakable sound of a hand, smacking into a bottom. And then finally, what seemed like a billion years and a day the strange nurse appeared again in the hallway. This time the nurse seemed to be aware of Jane, for she quickly turned around and peered toward Jane with her frosty blue eyes.

“I'm screwed.” Jane whispered to herself as she noticed the strange nurse was looking straight at her.

“Children.” She said in a slow, steady tone of voice. “Should be in bed.” She then started to move toward Jane. The blueish balls of fire that danced around her shoulders seemed to glow brighter and brighter with each passing moment. “Only naughty children wander the hospital hallways at night.”

“I... I was just going to get something to drink from the pop machine.” Jane said quickly as she watched the strange woman slowly move closer and closer to her. “Honestly! I just wanted to get something to drink. You know something beside tea, juice or water.” She said slowly starting to back peddle a little. Right now, she just wanted to get back to her room and dive under those covers and hide.  That right hide away, buried under three or four thin hospital blankets and wait till the morning rays of sunshine chased away this strange dream.

“Children who have pneumonia, don't need soda I'm afraid, they need juice, water or tea.” She paused. “If you're tired of those three, then Gatorade would help, in fact it would be better than pop.” She said moving ever closer to Jane.

“Right,” Jane said as she bumped into the metal door. She was honest at a total loss for words now. “Okay then, I'll just pop down to one of the vending machines and get me some then. And you can go about your normal, ghostly business.” She started to sweat a little as she watched the ghost float closer and closer to her.

“I'm afraid it's not that simple.” She said, shaking her head. “You and I need to have a little. Hospitals have rules, and those rules must be followed. And if you break a rule, you must be punished.” The ghost nurse said in a stern tone of voice and with that she reached down and wrapped her ghostly fingers around Jane. She then pushed open the door that led to Jane's hospital room and dragged the girl in as well.

“Can't we talk about this?” Jane said blushing as she was dragged back into her room.

“I'm afraid we have nothing to talk about.” The nurse said, taking a deep breath as she used her ghostly powers to close the door behind her.

Jane was still at a last for words when the ghost nurse dragged her into the room and dragged her up to her hospital bed. Still lost for words she watched the ghost nurse sit down at the edge of her hospital bed. Then without missing a beat, the ghost reached down and pulled Jane across her lap. For a brief, split second, Jane thought she must be having a nightmare, or at least a really weird fever dream. A very vivid fever dream no doubt brought on by her medications. Closing her eyes she tried to think, she was sure the minute she opened them, she would wake up in her hospital bed. It would be morning, the first bright rays of sunshine would be pouring through the window. Breakfast, maybe sauce, scrambled eggs and some pancakes would be brought to her with a cup of orange juice and of course water, plenty of water. Then she felt the edge of her hospital gown being raised up. She felt the coolness of the night air touching her bottom.

Then she felt the ghostly hand of the ghost nurse come slapping into her bottom. Sending a wave of sting and burn rolling into her bottom. The first smack of her bottom took her breath away. It was soon followed by another stinging smack, and then another and another one. Time then seemed to slow down, the seconds seemed to quickly become minutes and minutes quickly  became hours. And the nurses hand seemed to keep peppering her bottom. Starting with her left butt cheek, and then moving on to her right and after a few minutes of dropping, peppery, stinging swats her palm would switch over again.

For five solid minutes this cycle of peppering one cheek and then the other continued. With each passing second another stone was removed from the massive stone wall that guarded Jane's emotions. And soon, before she could really catch herself. Jane felt tears starting to roll down her cheeks. Her bottom was now on fire, and the ghost nurse showed no signs of stopping or even getting tired. Then again, how could she, she was a ghost after all And much to Jane's horror she felt the strokes were getting harder and harder with each passing second. The ghost nurse's hand was moving in an arching pattern, first she would raise her hand high above her head, then she would bring It down, the open palm would gain speed and momentum as it came hurtling toward the bottom. Then half a second later the open palm would come driving into Jane's quickly redding bottom. Sending another wave of sting and burn flooding into her body and flatting her round bottom cheeks.

Then after what seemed like forever and a day it was over. Jane lay limp over the nurses lap. Her bottom glowing like the sun. Her face was red and puffy and tear stained. Her breathing was hard and ragged. And all of her energy was spent, the spanking had sapped her emotionally and physically. Taking a deep breath, Jane slowly looked over her shoulders to notice the ghost nurse peering toward her with an unblinking, amused expression.

“I hope you've learned your lesson young lady.” She said in a ghostly tone of voice. “Because you've me way behind, now, I'm going to leave you. But I'm warning you straight to bed with you. And not a word to anyone about what you saw tonight. And for the record, you're now on my list. Children who get put on my list have already broken one of the hospital rules and have already received a warning spanking. And if you break another one, I might not be so gentle. The ghost nurse then reached down and removed Jane from her lap.” And trust me young lady. I have my ways of keeping taps on people. Just trust me, you don't want to see what strike two gets you or even a strike three.” She said in a stern warning tone of voice. And with that she melted into the night.

And here the ghostly adventures of Jane came to an end.

The backyard behind the Forest Foster House was huge. Bordered by a vast forest to the east, playfully called the ‘One Hundred Acre Wood’ by the children. The woods were dotted with dozens of tree houses and dozens more half-finished forts and hide-outs. Countless miles of trails and nature paths crisscrossed the forest floor. With rumors of a pet cemetery located somewhere deep within the forest. To the East of the yard was a vast section of marshland. Here the countless brooks, streams, and springs that were born deep within the forest gathered. Nobody dared to venture too deep into the marsh, only a few brave boys and girls and that was to catch crayfish that made their homes in the shadow pulls or fish in some of the deeper ponds that formed in the deeper parts. The marsh was also home to a dozen or so rumors. Rumors that included ghostly Will O’ Wisp appearing over the tall sea of reeds and cattails and of a demonic, man-eating tree located in the center. Those where of course just rumors.

The yard was now filled with children and dotted with lawn chairs. The bitter, smell of burning charcoal filled the air along with puffs of white smoke that billowed from the half dozen grilles that dotted the yard. The men of the house stood around these grills, all of them dressed in pleated shorts and short sleeve polo’s most of them wore red aprons that had the words Grill King sewn across them.

The women of the household gathered around the small patio tables that dotted the yard. Bright red Dixie cups, a brand of cheap paper cups rested upon the tables in front of them. Most were filled with chilled fruity wine and ice. All of them wore light cotton sundresses and plastic flip-flops.

The teenagers and children were scattered about the yard. Though most of them seemed to collect around the brick paved patio section. Here the tables were filled with chips and dips of all kinds and a four or five ice chest held ice cold pops and bottled drinks. Pitchers too filled to the brim with Kool-Aid in all its flavors, lemonade and tea, sweeten and unsweetened could be founded here, each pitcher was also filled with tiny cubes of ice that chilled the drinks to perfection.

There where also yard-games to be played, one of the most popular turned out to the ‘Pitch and Burst’ a game that was kind of like a dunking booth. But instead of the person sitting over a trap door of five hundred gallons or so of water. The person sat under a folding chair with a big, fat water balloon hovering over there heads. A target was set up next to the person with a switch at the center of the target. A person would smash a tennis ball into the center of the switch, that would cause a nail to pop the balloon, and the person sitting under it would get a nice cold shower!

Sitting in the ‘Hot Seat’ now was Katherine, the oldest teenager of the lot. She was soaking wet and blushing as she gripped the edge of the seat. A good half dozen popped balloons littered the ground beside her. One could even hear the teen's teeth chattering together as she watched with bated breath as the last ball tossed by Matthew strikes the target, a few seconds later a sudden downpour of ice cold water came down and hit her on the head. She screamed and stood up.

“OKAY!” She called out. “My turns up! Its Jane’s turn now.” She said slipping on her plastic flip-flops. She stood up and pouted. Being the oldest teen had pretty much painted a target on her back. Katherine was also pretty much soaked to the bone, that had been the longest thirty minutes of her life. Most of the children agreed to take at least fifteen to thirty minute turns sitting in the chair. After the teens, and children had there fun, some of the adults agreed to take there turns too. But only the young at heart, the game was mostly for the teens, tweens, and children.

“We’ll go find her then. I think she’s somewhere around here. Last I saw, she and Sue were having a pokemon battle with the rest of the squirts.” Matthew said as reached over to a nearby table and picked up an extra large towel. He handed the folded towel to Katherine who took it with a smile. She quickly wrapped the towel around her and sighed.

“Of course, I swear that girl is like spending all of her money on that game. Like she has filled four or five binds with cards.” Katherine said as she took another towel and started to dry off.

“Well, she is attending the local Pokemon League. And She’s doing really well like she earned six badges of the Kanto set so far. And the local league manager is cool with her being you know ‘Jane’ so it's kind of her safe space. I think it's pretty cool. She even starting to talk with a few of the boys there. Plus, the league manager is a friend of the families. So, of course, she’ll be going a little overboard.” Matthew Said with a small smile.

Katherine took another towel and wrapped this one around her hair. She knew that being ‘Jane’ meant a lot to her new sister, who was still trying to figure out that side of her. Rolling her eyes she started the search, she soon found the girl sitting at one of the tables, sitting across from her was another one of her sisters, Susan, the cute brown-haired tomboy. The two seemed to be in the middle of an intense pokemon game, judging by the looks of things.

“Hey, dork,” Katherine said as she peered Jane, who had gone the more girly-girl route today. While most of the girls wore shorts, tank-tops or teeshirts. Jane had chosen to wear a sundress, a pink sundress at that. Complete with bead bracelet and pink flip-flops. She had even dyed her hair, going from a brown to a sandy colored blonde. It kind of suited her.

Jane blinked and turned around and blushed as she noticed Katherine standing there, dripping water, a few stray pieces of plastic still clung to her hair.

“It's your turn in the ‘Pitch and Burst’ followed by you, Susan. Matthew is starting to get the balloons ready.” She said smirking a little. “And I’m going to get first dibs on soaking you. So come along brat.” Katherine said as she reached out and offered Jane her hand.

Jane blushed as she reached down and took the offered Hand, Katherine then pulled her to her feet and gently guided her across the lawn. Susan followed and smiled softly as she bounced behind the two.

“So Jane.” She said in a teasing tone of voice. “This is like total payback for you sneaking into my room a few days ago and borrowing my favorite nightgown without asking! Would have totally let you use it, all you needed to do was just ask.”

“I thought she was given a clothing allowance? Like on top of her normal allowance?” Asked Katherine as she turned around and peered toward both Susan and Jane. Jane was about to answer when Susan butted in and answered for her.

“She is, Joe is giving her a clothing allowance of like, two or three hundred dollars or so. Joe just holding it till there a big sale at the mall. Then where all, like going to go there and smash the place.” Susan chirped.

Katherine smirked and peered toward Jane.

“Oh good, I’m glad Josephine’s holding it, otherwise I’m sure that money would be spent on pokemon cards, pizza, and hot pockets.” She said sticking her pink tongue out as they drew nearer to the attraction. She released Jane’s hand

Jane blushed and peered toward Katherine then toward Susan.

“Like any of you could hit the broadside of a barn.” She said with such sass as turned and gently started to walk over the soaking wet ground that had grown damp from a dozen of busted water balloons. Taking a deep breath she eased her bottom down upon the seat and folded her hands in her lap and gave the two girls a big smile.

“Come on then, give me your best shot!”

Katherine turned toward Susan and smiled as she handed her a white softball. Susan took the ball and wrapped her fingers around it. The two exchanged a knowing glance. Susan stepped to the side and Katherine stepped up to the throwing line.

“We're about to make you eat those words,” Susan said as watched Katherine get into position.

Jane took a deep breath as her eyes focused in on Katherine who was getting ready, Katherine took her position and then drew in a deep breath as she drew her arm back, she released her breath as she threw her arm toward the target, the ball left her hand and sailed through the air and smacked into the trigger. A loud popping sound as the balloon was pooped and a shower of water fell down upon Jane’s head. Soaking her, the water being groundwater was quite cold and the sudden coldness took her breath away!

“Wow.,” Jane said blushing as she reached up and parted some wet strains of her hair from her eyes. “I guess you can hit something, but can you do again? Like for real, I’m going to mark that down as beginners luck.” She teased

“Somebody feeling a little sassy today,” Susan said as she folded her arms across her chest and watched as Katherine picked up her second and last ball. “Think we should enter her into the Soak a Princess attraction at this years renaissance fair?” Susan suggested. “She’ll be perfect.” The Soak a Princess was something of a junior version of renaissance fair classic Drench a Wench. The two were pretty much the same, only one was open for those fifteen and under and the other one was for the sixteen and over the crowd. The Male version was, of course, Soak a Prince and Soak a Bloke respectfully.

“Nah.” Katherine with a shake of her head. “She far too sassy to be a princess. I’m thinking, let's sign her up for the Pie Pillory. She’ll make a cute court jester. Sign her up for like Pie Pillory. She’ll make a cute court jester for royal courts.” She said with a smirk as she tossed the ball. This time the ball fell short of the target and rolled on the ground. As the ball rolled, Jamie pumped her fist in victory and Katherine turned to Susan and shrugged her shoulders.

“Your turn sis.” She grinning.

“I told you, that first shot was beginners luck! But I’m going to give a solid ‘B’ because you got me the first time.” Jane teased as she watched Susan step up and take her place. The glint in Susan’s eye made her shiver as she swallowed hard and took a deep, deep breath.

Susan then drew back her arm and released the ball in a smooth, fluid motion, the ball traveled through the air and smashed into the target, a second later a wave of water was pouring down on Jane. The cold groundwater took her breath away.

“LUCKY SHOT! AT LEAST YOUR THROWING ARM IS BETTER THAN YOU POKEMON GAME.” Jane shouted across the yard, a last-ditch attempt to hold the high ground and keep the sass train rolling.

Susan just smirked as she picked up the second ball. She waited till Matthew had placed another big, fat water balloon in the net before releasing another ball. Once more the ball sailed through the air before smashing into the target. Sending another sudden downpour of frigid water down upon Jane’s head.

Jane made no comment this time, she just sat there, buffing and huffing as she flipped a few strains of her soaking wet hair from her eyes and gave Susan a look that could kill.

Katherine then smirked and picked up another ball. Susan bowing to her older sister allowed her to take the place behind the throw line. Once Katherine was in place, Jane started to tease once more.

“Like, you think you could hit the target again? I mean come on, you missed with your last throw? Do you really think you can hit the thing this time?” She hoped to make Katherine blush and throw her off her game.

Katherine only smirked as she drew her arm back and released the tennis ball, the ball sailed through the air and smacked dead into the target. Sending another sudden downpour upon Janes' head.

“Where soaking the brat!” Susan cheered as she walked over and held up her open palm. Katherine smiled and slapped the open palm. Both girls then turned and smiled toward Jane who had playfully crossed her arms and turned her head to the side, her cheeks were burning a bright red, then from the crowd game a woman with honey blonde hair, she wore a pastel colored sundress and matching pink sandals. She offered Jane a gentle smile as she reached down and picked up a ball.

“No, honey,” Josephine said in a mock scolding tone of voice. “That no way for a lady to sit. Sit properly for mommy please.” She said as she tossed the ball into the air and caught it before it touched the ground.

Jane felt her cheeks flush with color, now her mother was getting in on the game. Taking a deep breath, she brought her knees together, folded her hands and placed them on her lap. She then straightens her back and gave her mother a big smile. Josephine grinned and tossed the ball high into the air before snatching it down again.

“Good girl!” She praised as she drew back her arm and tossed the ball toward the target. The ball smashed into the trigger, releasing a downpour of ice-cold water down upon Jane. Who at this point could only giggle as she water washed over her. At least it was better than cake.

“Good shot!” She called out as she raised up her face and cleared some lose strains of hair from her face.

“All-State,” Josephine said as she picked up her second ball and sent it flying toward the target again. The ball smashed into the trigger again, releasing another sudden downpour of water upon Jane. Who now looked quite comical.

“Right..” She said as she stood up. “Is my shift up?”

“One more toss,” Katherine called out as she tossed another ball toward Susan. “Then its Susan’s turn,” Katherine said as she turned toward Susan and winked. “Wonder if Little Jane will soak you as much as you’ve soaked her?” She said in a teasing tone of voice that made Susan blush.

“Sorry to be a party pooper girls. But after this toss, were about to eat. The steaks are about to come up, so, once you're done, give Jane a nice warm towel then you lot make your way toward the table. You can soak Susan once your done eating. Where not shutting this party down till twilight anyway.” Josephine said as she walked over and took two warm towels into her hand.

Susan nodded her head and peered toward Jane who was starting to shiver a little. Susan frowned and walked over to Jane. Jane blinked and blinked again as she was handed the tennis ball. Susan smiled and kissed her cheeks. Jane nodded her head, understanding what was being asked of her. She stood up and Susan took the seat and smiled toward Jane. As she walked toward the throw line. Susan smiled as she drew in a deep breath, her eyes traveled up for a minute as she eyed the big, fat water balloon hanging above her head. She released her breath as she focused her eyes on Jane, who was drawing her arm back now. With a big smile, the girl tossed the water balloon toward the target and it smashed into the trigger. Causing the balloon hovering above Susan’s head to pop and sending down a sudden downpour of icy cold water.

Susan shrieked as she felt the water land on her head. Susan blushing stood up and gently picked her way across the now soaked ground. The two smiled at each other, then without thinking the two embraced each other and hugged. Teasing and sassy remarks aside, the two still loved them. Katherine who was standing to the side smiled and joined the hug. After a solid minute or two, the three broke apart and Katherine always the tomboy said.

“Okay gals. Its time to eat. Those steaks are smelling mighty good!” And with that Katherine trotted away. Susan followed her and Jane just stood there smiling. There was something special about being Jane, something very special. Maybe one day she would be Jane twenty-four seven. But that day was far away, right now, she was happy being Jane only one the weekend and for special events.

The End.

The Adventures of Jane and Family will be continued in ‘Melodies of the Heart: The Renaissance Fair’.

The Plymouth Renaissance Festival was one of the large Renaissance Fairs in Erehwon. Located in the district of Ashen the fair covered a area of roughly four hundred acres. The fair by local tradition and its founding charter always opened the weekend of Victoria Day and always closed by Labor Day.

The air was filled with the sounds and smells of a open air market. Vendors selling handcrafted goods stood by their stales and shouted at the top of there lungs at the people who passed them by. With polished oratory skills, they hawked and peddled there goods as people passed by there booths. The ringing and booming of hammers could be heard coming nearby Blacksmith's shop, from the row of food booths, the strong smell of garlic, black pepper, dill and the drippings from the roasting meats could be smelled.

James now dressed as Jane took a deep breath as she made her way down the wide, flagstone paved road that connected front gate with the main square, Plymouth Renaissance Festival was starting to remind her of the somewhat classic Legend of Zelda location of 'Hyrule Market' with its flagstone paved main walkways, its cobblestone paved back streets, the large fountain in the middle of the square flanked by building that had been built to mimic those built in Tudor England. Tall mullioned windows, high brick chimneys, jetted first floors above pillared porches with dormer windows, supported by consoles and the cherry on the verbal sundae many of the the building either had thatched roofs or roofs made of black slated. That look really rounded out many of the building and structures.

The sight of those building, plus the strong smell of horse manure, the bedlam of noises, the hawking of goods, really made Jane feel like she stepped back in time. She was no longer in the year two thousand and nineteen. But by her best guess, she seemed to have stepped back into the year sixteen hundred and twenty four maybe?

“You're looking cute.” A voice behind her said. The voice belonged to Dawn, who was dressed in a simple gown made of light cotton, simple leather slipped her feed from much of the muck and mire. Her long blonde hair was styled back in a nice, neat braid that was slung over her shoulder. A blue velvet drawstring purse hung around her wrist.

Jane blushed as she looked down at the outfit her two older sisters Katherine and Susan had picked out for her. The outfit was an simple, cotton dress that barely covered her kneecaps. The dress was also two-toned with the colors red and black blending in together. A diamond pattern covered the dress with some of the jewels being black and some of them being red. The dress was also form fitting and hugged her hourglass figure like a glove, it even gave her the false appearance of a budding chest. Long, white, woolen stocking provided a bit of modesty and a small degree of comfort. The slippers that covered her feet were likewise in the same pattern of red and and black mixed together. All in all, it was the classic court jester look, minus only the matching cap. Instead, her hair had been parted down the middle and styled in two fashionable pigtails.

“Thank you.” Jane said finally as she felt her cheek bones flush with color, “Your looking cute too.” Dawn was wearing the standard village women dress.

“So, like, we have just under thirty minutes or so before your show. Want to get a snack or something?” Dawn asked as she reached down and took Jane's hand into her own. She smiled as she peered down at the girl who less than a month ago had been a shy little boy. That shy little bow had now come her little sister.

Dawn had spent Jane's birthday week in St. Philomena Children's Hospital. The hospital was one of the major pediatric hospitals in the region. She had been infected with a nasty case of influenza B. One of the most common types of flu strains and one children and teens are the most susceptible to. Her case had been touch and go and more than once she swore she saw the fable 'Ghost Nurse' that suppose to dwell there. Anyway it was only two days after her released did she get the news that the sly little boy she had known as “James” had taken to calling himself “Jane” and skipping around the house dressed as a girl and oddly enough nobody seemed bothered by it.

The news still bothered her a little. Dawn had been born and raised in the largely French and predominantly Roman Catholic part of Erehwon. Before she came to the forest household at the age of eleven she had been mostly raised by a Roman Catholic order of nuns called 'The Sisters of Charity and Mercy'. Part of her upbringing among the sisters meant that been given a classic Catholic education. Beside the fundamentals of Math, Spelling, English, History and Science, she had also been schooled in Latin, Greek and Hebrew and on the side she had received a thorough grounding in the doctrine and canon of the Roman Catholic Church, she had also been confirmed and received her first communion there.

As such, she had been taught from the crib to view people like Jane has been having afflicted with some kind of mental illness. After all, there where only two genders right? That what scripture said anyway. Bringing her lips together, she started to think. She was even correct in considering Jane to be her little sister? She was still a boy for the most part.

“Hey, Dawn?” Jane said as she peered up at her.

“Sup?” dawn said as she peered down at Jane, she was a good taller than the girl.

Jane peered up and looked into Dawn eyes, both their eyes meet for a solid thirty seconds. The two orbs of blue connected, after a long minute that seemed to last forever it was Jane who finally broke the silence.

“You okay? You kind of went silent. Is something the matter?” Jane was somewhat aware that there were some older teens in the house that had been put off by her becoming Jane, none of them had been openly hostile toward her, but there had been a few that had given her a cold shoulder. That cold shoulder extended to wither she was being Jane or James, a few had even outright sent her to Coventry. Of course, that had only been a few of them and Jane had refused to let a few rotten apples ruin the whole barrel for her.

“Oh, its nothing sis. I was just thinking.” Dawns aid as she lifted her arm up and wrapped it around Jane's slender shoulder as she guided toward the food booths. The signboard above one read “St. George's Tavern” the script was in old English of course. In front of the counter one could find around a dozen wooden picnic tables. Standing behind counter and tending a oddly modern cash register was a women a women who was also dressed in period dress. Taking the orders and hanging them off to a man and another teen in the back was another women, she appeared to be around the same age as Dawn.

In the back one could see classical fair dishes being prepared. Fried fillets of locally caught or raised fish, plumb polish sausages, hot dogs and cheap cuts of stead that had been heavily marinaded were being grilled over charcoal fires. The pungent smell of fat dripping into the hot, gray coals below filled the air around. Along with the savory smell of garlic, pepper, salt and dill each adding there own special flavors and smells.

Dawn paused and peered down at Jane. She closed her eyes for a minute and took a deep breath, how could she hate somebody like Jane. Jane was such a sweet girl, like James had been a sweet boy. She closed her eyes as she started to remember that James had been among the only handful of boys that visited with a few of her sisters while she been confined in the hospital. He had visited her a day or so before his birthday, the birthday happen to be the day Jane was reveled to the world. She remembered that or should she say she, had even gone out and brought here a ice cold Coke-Cola and a small bag of her favorite chips from the snack vending machines in the hallway. And while that might not seem like a big deal. When you where confined to bed in a hospital, small things like a Coke and a bag of your favorite chips meant so much more. Yes, how could she even consider somebody like that suffering from a mental illness? It was like two parts of her were trying to fuse together o r at least come to terms. The side that been born in her first eleven years of her life by the Catholic nuns and the one that had been born when she came into the Forest House.

“Nothing much.” She said at last. She smiled and pulled the girl into a one arm hug. “I was just thinking that I'm like really blessed to have such a cool little sister, such as yourself.” She said with a smile that reached from one ear to the other. And there was a grain of truth to statement. Despite what others might say, she knew for fact that Jane or James had a heart of pure gold, after all, she had volunteered to have pudding and cream pies thrown at that pretty face for thirty minutes to support St. Philomena Children's Hospital. And that said a lot about her character right there.

Jane returned Dawns smile with one of her own as the two walked toward the food booth. She was not aware of the mental storm brewing inside Dawn's head. She only knew that Dawn was a pretty cool big sister, who was buying a snack and considering how much a penny pinching dawn was, and how expensive food at these type of fairs was, that said a lot.

Dawn smiled even larger as she watched the smile grown on Jane's face. No matter if she personally approved of Jane's decision, no matter what some priest or minster said, the girl or boy was still family and even if they were all foster children, they were still family and blood was thicker than water. Plus it was her time honored and testy duty to give her little sister at least one snack and one full size meal the the fair. Feeding the younger ones and buying them trinkets had always been the duty of the older brothers and sisters. Also there was something special about sitting down and sharing a meal with somebody. It was like going to Mass with somebody, it just bonded you in a way. And maybe, sharing a few meals with her new little sister would help her bridge that gap a little.